The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-10-28

decade. Pat lay staring at the
lamp with her fingers in her ears,
to stop out the sound that might
herald the approach of the "hant."
Ted talked necessarily from his
narrow quarters, declaring he smell
ed rats aud wishing he had brought
a terrier along with him, whercupon
Aunt ClOo said She'd likely find
terrOrs enough, if he'd wait, III dat
hous'."
The sound of their voices grew
more distant, and at last mingled
with the SOughing of the pines, aud
dreamIand opened dim vista be.
fore my sleeping eyes. A kind of
halo shone from the red-gray bOles
of the pines, light which rapidly
grew white and weird, throwing
inky shadows. The long grass bent
and rustled ds the waves of hight
spread around, and, now the moss
covered rails of the sunken and rat.
Ting fence lOomed black against it,
showing an angle where the upper
rails had fallen to the ground and
hy half buried in the sandy SOIL
just at this point, and stepping over
the rails, came - STOPPING figure,
clothed in tatters, and muddy
spade slung over his left shoulder,
while he grasped gun in his right
hand. The lights came Shimmering
andspreading onward dis the crouch
ing figure came hastily forward,
tramping down the tangled grass.
The face is wild and vicious, the
eyes hloodshot, the hair a tangled
mass, an overgrOwn shock. An
agony of fear crept over me as l
saw the man stand erect beneath
Ted's window and swing himself
upon the sill. l tried to cry out in
dreadful fright, but my voice was
stilled | saw the muIderOuS gun
pointed at the sleeping boy, with Il
pang so real that ] splang out up.
on the floor and graSped Aunt ClOe
aud with shrek startled the
household. The window was found
to be securely fastened, and Aunt
Cloe went grumbling back to her
matIrass, saying, "rale hants is bad
enough, AN Pse had some 'Speri
ences, but when it comes Il keepin'
folks wake all night long er dreams
is a mother thing"
Pat WAS Cross again, aud Ted
complained, and at last | slept
sound and refreshing sleep, only to
be awakened by mysterious whis-
per close tU my ear, and Aunt Cloe's
closed and shaking hand held me
fast.
~ 'clare to gracious, Miss. IT'S
cum dis time sho, and nobody ever
hearn such death grOaDS.'
| held my breath to listen and
heard a noise as of clash
ing metal, or iron tools struck
lightly together.
eyer jis' heah dat, Miss, dOan yer
heah 'um : amt closed my eyes
dis blessed night, but l crept up am
pceped out, an Glare 70 gracious,
Miss, 1t looked hanty outside, and
when | done drapt of sorter dOz
in' like | seed the hant jes' a step
PIN Ober dc fence"
"Stop, Auut Cloe, you did not SEQ
that, why that is my dream over
gain; yOu heard me tell it aud
have mixed it with your dream
81 Glare didn't, | drempt it all |
10 myself, an you drempt bout a
man shooten Ted.7
l then suddenly remembered that |
had only spoken of tue last part
If my dream aud had not mention.
ii tue teuce at all. Overcome with
aud dread, We put on
'ur clothes, and as tired AS we were,
away the remaining hours
II that dreadful night. The next
lay wore away and contained many
of coming storms
nd invading "hants," aud many
Mysterious rites, such as suspending
he sitter, turning shoes over. and
many head shakings by Aunt ClOe.
ate in the afternoon we started,
'iloted by Ted, to explore the barn,
'ut found nothing TO frigbten us.
Ne dreaded the coming darkness,
specially as a slow rain set IN
bout dark and low line of copper
inted clouds glOwed for a brief
pace in the west, an an owl made
be house seem more dismal With its
Teird cry. Aunt ClOe kindled a brisk
re, and we tried to talk cheerigy OF
he coming spring. Have you ever
pent a night among the pines, or
rilhin hearing OF their mOurnful
efrain ! 1t is like the echo of a
wing tempest over a ruined city,
r the deep, sad voice OF ;he sea.
That night the Caribbean tem-
est came, dashing the inky waters
{ the Sound landward, she Bayou
He'd aud flooded the marsh, and
be great wings OF the storms hap- I
ed against the giaut trees. II
las a fearful uigbt with its resl {
lare, booming thunder aud crash |
lg timber. Our little baud went {
bivenHg TO bed, and hours after
be waves still lAshed the shore aud
be Wind b0wled among the pines
nd moaned like a lost spirit. Then
died away, and the house grew !
iill, save the happing OF the wings
{ the bats ia the long deserted gar
Il. Too much excited 10 sleep, !
Tipped frcm the bed aud silently J